the Little Cellar Rat dined on this yesterday and she had to share it with you: hummous, BUCKS BUTCHERY CHILDERS shaved smoked ham, baby bocconcini (marinated by TLCR) and cocktail tomatoes to finish. Oh, nearly forgot to mention the fresh basil from the Winery Herb patch…. DELIZIOSO!!!

Fresh herbs make a world of difference to simple dishes.
The Little Cellar Rat has some very healthy looking rosemary and tarragon in the winery herb patch. When you visit the Cellar Door, make sure you walk away with some. Roast lamb with rosemary…. just has to be! But don’t limit this very versatile herb to the lamb, it works so well with a tray bake of mixed veggies.
buona cucina!

The Little Cellar Rat likes to have something in the fridge for a quick lunch.
She pulled these together very quickly this week and is loving them…. they tick most of the boxes: tasty, easy-peasy to make, will keep in the fridge and can be used in many ways.

Did I mention the Smoked Ham or bacon (optional) came from our local BUCKS BUTCHERY CHILDERS.

frittelle di cavolfiore

• 1 X small cauliflower, cut into florets
• 1 X egg
• approx 1/3 cup milk
• ½ cup SR Gf flour
• 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese
• chopped shallots
• minced garlic to taste
• chopped fresh herbs (basil, thyme, Italian parsley)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• few shakes smoky paprika
• finely chopped ham or bacon (optional)

Steam cauliflower and chill (cook a day or two before and leave in fridge)
Mash with potato masher.
Add egg, milk, cheese, herbs etc and mix well.
Add good olive oil to non-stick pan, cook as with other fritters – use about 1 dessertspoon, spread out with silicon spoon.
Turn with silicon spoon and a second spoon, so as not to break up.

Can be reheated in microwave.

Buon appetito!

The Little Cellar Rat likes to have something ready in the fridge for a quick lunch, especially when time is in short supply. A QUICHE is a good old faithful stand-by.
It’s tasty, nutritious and, with a quick salad and spoon of Mango chutney or tomato Relish, really ticks the box for ‘satisfaction’. TLCR has worked out a good GF pastry base and finely sliced ham or bacon from BUCKS BUTCHERY CHILDERS takes it to the #1 level. Simple to reheat in the MickeyWave or have as is in the lunch box. buon appetito!

It’s a glorious day here at The Hill and the Grey shrike Thrush is putting on a concert. We’re so privileged to have so much bird life and it’s one of the reasons we have put time into planting a variety of trees and shrubs.The birdlife provides us with ongoing entertainment and some really are sociable, valuing the human contact.

The Little Cellar Rat can’t imagine not having Basil in the garden or the kitchen! The plants have a limited life span, so in order to ensure a constant supply, you need to be continually encouraging new generations. It’s always heart-warming to see little plants appearing in the Herb Patch but they are also easy to strike in water, especially in the warmer months. It is fascinating to plot the growth of those tiny little white ‘bumps’ on the stems through to Rapunzel-like white wavy ‘hair’ and all in a matter of days. The one delicious Lemon Basil plant has self-seeded and a few pieces put into water in the kitchen for ease-of-use, have now sprouted roots and are almost ready to plant out. buona cucina!

The Little Cellar Rat cannot remember a year that was harsher and drier than 2019 (and she’s lived here for 46 years) so it is just SOOOO delightful to see a green tinge returning, shoots on shrubs and trees and that unmistakable perfume of freshly cut grass.
No, the tanks aren’t full and the dams aren’t overflowing but it’s a start that puts a lightness in the step and a song in the heart!

I can’t imagine not having Mr Basil in the kitchen. He is such a versatile herb and the basis for so much ‘cucina siciliana’.
Well now is the time to get those basil cuttings going. Pick a few pieces (or beg, borrow or steal from a friend), stip the boots leaves and keep in water, change daily. Before you can say ‘la dolce vita’ you will have gorgeous white roots appear and ready to plant out in a few weeks.
These appeared after 3-4 days in water!

If you’ve kept seeds from a previous crop, get them into some soil at once and in no time you will have those fat little first two leaves popping up to greet you.
buona cucina!